Telstra flags redundancies in Defence Engagement
The CWU has met with Telstra to discuss proposed changes to operations in Defence Engagement.
In 2013, Telstra won a $1.1 billion contract with the Department of Defence for supply telecommunications, network and mobile services. At the time, the six-and-a-half year contract represented the “largest customer undertaking” Telstra had ever taken on, according to then Telstra CEO David Thodey and involved the creation of 350 new jobs in Telstra.
Telstra has now notified the union that following an internal review of this area of its business it has made an initial decision to make the following changes:
- A reduction of 24 roles across Service Operations and Business Enablement;
- The creation of 7 new roles; and
- Movement of some teams of employees into the relevant areas of Telstra, in Telstra Operations or Global Services.
Telstra says these last changes are reporting line changes only and will not have a significant impact on employees.
The CWU met with Telstra over these changes on Wednesday 16 March. Telstra told the union that the number of roles affected is now 23 rather than 24 and that the bulk are located in Canberra with a small number in Melbourne (in Procurement and GES).
There is no offshoring or outsourcing involved.
Employees working in this area are generally required to have security clearances and, as Telstra acknowledges, this is one good reason for keeping them in the company. The union believes that Telstra should be aiming for a high level of retention of these staff – depending, of course, on employees’ own preferences.
CWU members affected by this restructure and wanting advice on their options should contact their state branch.
